Boiler water line indicating device



Jan. 22, 1946. J R GUILDFORD 2,393,365

BOILER WATER LINE INDICQATING DEVICE Filed'Jan. 12, 1944 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

39 4- 33 FIG 1.

s: 5s 59 55 56 '57 so INVENTOR Jan. 22, 1946. J. R. GUIL FQRD 2,393,365

BOILER WATER LINE INDICATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 12, 1944 2 Sheets-She et 2 3 FIG 4.

25 at 20 as 414- la Q J 5: 24 .IS l7 as 21 a0 l5 l9 \NVENTOR Patented Jan. 22, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE BOIL'ER WATER-tins INDICATING DEVICE man a. Guil'dford, Niagara Fausfontario,

Canada e 7 Application januaryiz, 194.4, Serial No. 511936 commi (c1. "vs-296) I sparatebuilding ata ny' distance from the boiler The impellirig mea nsof'th'e device for operatingthe indicating means is designed for safety and is capable of withstanding any boilerpressures now developed or which may be developed. This impellirig means has no parts to rupture due'to boiler pressures'and'embodies a novel'construction.

All'of the foregoing and'ju'rther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from 'a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings wherein like charactersof referencedesignate 'corres ondin parts throughout 'theseveral views, in which:

Figure 1 shows "a vertical viewfo'f the device witha cutaway section of a boilerdrum in which the norrhai water line of the "boiler 'is'shownand. is indicated.

Figure 2 is a vertical view of the device with a cut-away section of a boiler drum anda section'al view ofthecylinderin which the lowwater line of the boiler is shown and-is indicated. v

'Figure'3 shows a plan view 'of the device connected to the boiler drum but not showing the indicator or electric wiring.

Figure 4 is "a vertical View of the impelling meanson line 4540f FigureB. I

Figure 5 shows an enlarged vertical View Of the electricalcontactor panel;

Figure 6 shows an enlarged vertical "end view of the electrical contacto'r panel, on line 6''6 of Figure 5. I

Figure 7 shows an enlarged plan view of a contactor point.

Figure 8 shows an enlarged 'elevational view of a contactor point. I i c Figure 9 shows a sectional view of Figure 7 on line 9-4. p -Figure '10 shows a vertical View of a portion of the rocker arm and terminal.

Figure 11 shows a. plan view of the arm of Figure with its contact.

Figure 12 shows'asectional view of Figure '11 onli'n'e |2l2.

Referring in'detail tothe drawings: The numeral (3 indicates 'a hollow cylinder closedat the top and'bottom' with heads I4 and I5. "Connected to the 'wall "of the cylinder at [6 and I1 and providing'access' thereto are the end of eachof the pipe coils l8 and I9.' 'Thesecoils are designed to provide flexibility.

The; remaining ends of coils I'B'an'd lSare -coriheated through unions 2'0 and valves zl to the steam space 22 and water space 23 "of th'e'boiler drum '24 at 25 and 26. It will beobvious that since the pipe "coils are connected to both the boiler drum and cylinder in the manner herein described and shown that any'fluctuation'of water within theboiler drum will correspondingly fluctuate within the Cylinder and that boiler I the' device when necessary and the unions 2!! are for connecting and disconnecting when desired.

The drawings indicate welded construction of the cylinder, coils, valves and unions but this construction. may be by means of threaded or fian gedjoin'ts as desired, "and while the drawings show the "coils direct-connected to the boiler drum it "i'sto be understood that the coils may be connected indirectly to the steam and water spaces ofthe boiler through regular water column piping connections (not shown I The numeral '21 indicates a structural channel and 28 indicates a cradle, both of which are supplied by'others for supporting the boiler. "29 is a platform riveted or bolted to 21 to support one end of '29. The opposite end of 29 is supported with brackets 30 bolted 'to 29 at 31 and to the boiler brickwork "designated as 32. r

A cylinder supporting cradle 33 is mounted on 29 'by wading or bolting at 34, Cradle braces 35 are provided and welded or bolted on 29 at 35'. A spring 31 is provided for supporting the weight of the 'cylinder l3 and one end portion of each of the coils l8 and I9 at low water level position. An eye bolt 38 is 'mounted onthe cylinder head f4 to which is attached one end-of the spring 31. A threaded eye bolt 39 is adjustably mounted to the cradle 33 by means of nuts 40'. The remounted on a threaded extension 49 and adjustably attached to the platform 29 by means of nuts 58. The bifurcated head 48 is pivotally attached by a pin to the rocker arm 46 at 52.

The rocker arm 48 is provided with holes at 41 and 52 for the pins 45 and 5| to pass through. One end of the rocker arm 46 is provided with an adjustable weight 53 which is fastened in position onto the rocker arm by means of a threaded set screw 54. This weight is for the purpose of i counterbalancing the rocker arm on each side of the point 52.

The remaining end of the rocker arm is rovided with a fork like portion 55. One of the arms of the fork is provided with a contact 58 comprising a copper flexible disk 51. The disk is mounted to the arm of the fork by an insulated plate 58 to which is attached a threaded bolt 59 and nut 68. An insulation washer 6| is provided to isolate the copper disk from the arm of the fork. On the disk is mounted a terminal 82 for attachment of an electric main wire 63. The remaining arm of the fork is provided at its end with a finger 64. The object of the finger is to maintain a slight pressure on the flexible disk in order to make a contact between the disk and a contact point or points on the contact or panel shown in Figure 5.

The platform 29 is provided with an extended apron for the attachment of the contactor material and perforated to receive the contact points 12. The spacer H is also preferably to be constructed of an insulating material and slotted to receive the contact points 12. The sides 69 and 10 together with the spacer 1| are bolted tor gether by means of fiatheaded bolts 13 and nuts 14.

Flanges 15 are provided on the sides 69 and 10 and perforated at 76 for insertion of the bolts 88, Cavities 11 are provided in the ends of the contactor points 12 for insertion of the electric wires-18 where they can be sweated into place.-

The numeral 19 designates the indicator and comprises a panel 88 on which is mounted a number of electric lamps in lamp sockets as at 8|. Electric wires 18 shown diagrammatically are connected at one end tothe contact points 12-and at their opposite ends to the lamp sockets in which the electric lamps are mounted. Perforations 82 are provided in the panel for mounting the panel on a wall'or gauge board. Electric wires 83 are connected to the lamp sockets at BI and to the main electric wire 84. The electrical circuit for operating the lamps on the indicating panel is provided through wire 63, through the contact 58 and contact point or points 12, through the wiring 18, through the lamps at 8!, through the wiring 83 and 84. The source of electric current to which 63 and 84 are to be attached is not shown.

The numerals 85 indicate rocker arm limits and comprise threaded rods with nuts 86 for fastening into place. These rods pass through the contactor panel assembly 88, 10 and H, and are provided to limit the movement of the rocker arm 46 from a low water level to a high water level position.

The disk 51 is to be made sufiiciently large to make contact with an adjacent contact point on the panel before leaving the contact point it is moving away from. By this means there will always be a light showing on the indicator board.

In the event of possible electric power or lighting failure an operator will still be-able to determine'the water line in the boiler to which my device is attached by observing the position of the fork-like portion 55 of the rocker arm 48 on the contactor panel 66. This is important because try cocks usually furnished and installed on water columns to boilers are not shown or supplied with my indicating device, and some method must be provided to determine the water line. In other words, if a gauge glass on an ordinary boiler water column breaks the try cocks have to be relied on until a new gauge glass is installed. With my device, in the event of electric power or lighting failure the rocker arm position in relation to the contactor panel must be relied on to indicate the relative position of the boiler water line which is obvious.

Briefly, the operation of the invention is as follows:

In Figure 2 it will be noted that the water line is shown below the normal water line shown in Figure 1 indicating that a low water line exists. In this low water line condition the spring has drawn the cylinder upand the rocker arm fork portion 55 is down to its low limit making contact with the lowest contactor point causing electric current. to flow through to the lowest lamp and lighting it on the indicator panel. As water is introduced into the boiler the weight of the column of water forming in the cylinder from the boiler causes the cylinder to lower and the spring to lengthen. As this movement takes place the rocker arm fork portion 55 moves upward causing a contact to be made at each succeeding contact point. As each contact point is reached the lamp on its circuit lights up and the lamp circuit contact point which the contact has left goes out. This action takes place successively as the water flows into the boiler and cylinder until the'water ceases flowing into the boiler, or, until the rocker arm fork 55 reaches its high limit.

In Figure l the water line is shown at normal. In thiscase the cylinder has been lowered due to the corresponding height and weight of the column of water in the cylinder, the rocker arm fork 55 has raised up to the centre contact point and the centre light goes on, indicating a normal water line. If more water is introduced into the boiler the cylinder continues to lower, the rocker arm fork55 continues upward making a contact with each successive circuit causing each lamp in its course to light up and indicate the height of the water line.

As the water line in the boiler lowers the Water in the cylinder becomes correspondingly lower and as the weight in the column of water lessens in the cylinder it raises due to the tension of the spring, the rocker arm fork 55 lowers, cutting in each lower light circuit thereby indicating the position of the water line, until the water line has reached its low limit level again as shown in Figure 2.

Any number of indicator panels may be insaid rocker am moving arcwise over said i'ndi- V stalledand operated from one contactor panel by installing a -system of wiring as shown to each indicator panel and connecting to a main wire 8'4. 'Onl'y-one wire 63, asshown is necessary for one or more'indicating panels which is obvious. It-is-believed that the *manyadvanta'ges, of a boiler water line indicating device in accord-- ance with "the present "inventionwill be readily understood, and although the preferrede'mbodimentof the invention has illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a water line indicating device for remotely indicating the water line of a steam boiler below said water line, a closed cylinder, flexible communication means between said cylinder and a boiler for conveying a fluid from said boiler to said cylinder, flexible communication means between said cylinder, and said boiler for relieving gas from said cylinder to said boiler, flexible means for supporting saidcylinder, said flexible supporting means adapted to permit a downward movement of said closed cylinder as said fluid is conveyed to said cylinder and said gas is relieved through said gas relieving flexible communication means, indicator means, said indicator means comprising a rocker arm and a stationary panel,

said rocker arm being pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to said closed cylinder, one end of said arm adapted to slide arcwise over said panel, said indicator means being provided with graduation points on said panel to indicate the relative position of said water line as the end of said arm moves over said points.

2. In a waterline indicating device for remotely indicating the water line of a steam boiler below said water line, a closed cylinder, flexible communication means between said cylinder and a boiler for conveying a fluid from said cylinder to said boiler, flexible means for supporting said cylinder, said flexible supporting means adapted to permit an upward movement of said closed cylinder as said fluid is conveyed to said boiler, indicator means, said indicator means comprising a rocker arm and a stationary panel, said rocker arm being pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to said closed cylinder, one end .of said arm adapted to slide arcwise over said panel, said indicator means being provided with graduation points on said panel to indicate the relative position of saidwater line as the end ofsaid arm moves over said points.

3. In a water line indicating device for remotely indicating the water line of a steam boiler below said water line, a closed cylinder, flexible communication means between said cylinder and a boiler for conveying a fluid to and from said boiler and said cylinder, flexible means for supporting said cylinder, a balanced rocker am, said cylinder pivotally connected to said rocker arm intermediate of its ends, a rigidly supported platform, pivotal supporting means for said rocker arm attached to said platform, said rocker arm pivotally attached intenmediate of its ends to said pivotal supporting means, said flexible supporting means adapted to permit a downward and upward movement of said closed cylinder as said fluid is conveyed to and from said cylinder and said boiler, a stationary panel provided with indicator means adapted to permit one end of said rocker arm to slide on and contact said indicator means,

cator means thereby indicating the relative positi'oirof said water line. '4, In a'water line indicating device for remotely indicating the water line of a steam boiler, a

closed cylinder, flexible communication means between said cylinder andaboiler for conveying a fluid from said cylinder to saidboiler, flexible means 'for' supporting said cylinder, a balanced rocker arm having 'on one end an electrical contact and on its opposite end a slidable adjustable counter-balancing weight, said cylinder pivotally connected to said rocker arm intermediate of its ends, a rigidly supported platform, pivotal supporting means for said rocker arm attached to said platform, said rocker arm pivotally attached intermediate of its ends tosaid pivotal supporting means, a contactor panelwith multiple contact points attached to said platform, an indicator panel equipped with lamp sockets and electric lamps located outside of the boiler room, a system of electric wiring between said contactor panel and indicator panel, a system of wiring between said indicator panel and a source of electric current, an electrical connection between said rocker arm electrical contact and said source of electric current, said flexible supporting means adapted to permit an upward movement of said closed cylinder as said fluid is conveyed to said boiler from said cylinder causing said rocker arm electrical contact end to move downward over said contactor points on said contactor panel thereby making consecutive electrical circuits through the electric lamps on the said indicator panel enabling one to determine the height of the water line in said boiler as each electric lamp corresponding to the height of said Water line lights up.

5. In a water line indicating device for remotely indicating the Water line of a steam boiler, a closed cylinder located alongside of said boiler, flexible communication means between said cylinder and the boiler for conveying a fluid to and from said boiler and said cylinder, flexible means for supporting said cylinder, a balanced rocker arm, said cylinder pivotally connected to said rocker arm intermediate of its ends, a rigidll supported platform, pivotal supporting means for said rocker arm attached to said platform, said rocker arm pivotally attached intermediate of its ends to said pivotal supporting means, said flexible supporting means adapted to permit a downward and upward movement of said closed cylinder as said fluid is conveyed to and from said cylinder and said boiler causing said rocker arm to seesaw, an indicator located remote from said closed cylinder and said boiler, said indicator comprising electrical lighting circuits operated through the seesaw movement of said balanced supported platform, said rocker arm pivotally at-' tached intermediate of its ends to pivotal supporting means attached to said platform, a contactor panel with multiple contact points at-' taohed to said platform, an indicator panel equipped with lamp sockets and electric lamps, a system of electric wiring between said contactor panel and indicator panel, a system of wiring between said indicator panel and a source of electric current, an electrical connection between said rocker arm electrical contact and said source of electric current, said flexible supporting means adapted to permit an upward movement of said closed cylinder as said fluid is con- 10 

